This personal aging-in-place project highlights how lived experience, policy literacy, and design thinking came together to support both safety and quality of life for aging parents. The work involved translating Medicaid guidelines and State of Michigan policies into a sustainable in-home care model that honored autonomy, dignity, and the couple’s long-established routines.
Drawing on experience in care coordination, environmental design, and small business operations, this project evolved into a home-based caregiving business with hired employees providing structured, person-centered support. The home environment was thoughtfully adapted for safety, accessibility, and sensory comfort, while systems for documentation, scheduling, and communication were designed to protect benefits, meet regulatory requirements, and ease the emotional and logistical load on family caregivers.
